Sustainable block

Manufactured in the UK using 80% recycled materials

Aircrete blocks are an environmentally friendly sustainable building material offering many benefits in construction that add to the sustainable credentials of a project, including thermal insulation, thermal mass and air-tightness.

Most aircrete in the UK is manufactured with up to 80% recycled content at factories where strict waste minimisation schemes are employed both during and after manufacture. Most aircrete is made from a mixture of pulverised fuel ash (PFA), sand, cement, aluminium and water. Its unique properties are enhanced by the use of PFA, a by-product of coal fired power stations, which would otherwise be sent to landfill, but is recycled to produce aircrete.

Aircrete is a durable building material with a very long life expectancy (well in excess of the Green Guide to Housing Specifications 60 year building life). It requires little maintenance over its lifespan and is a good alternative to timber framed buildings. Aircrete is a durable material that does not give off any harmful substances or require preservatives to maintain performance. It does not rot or burn. It is resistant to sulfates and the effects of freeze/thaw cycles and it cannot be attacked by pests such as termites or vermin.

Aircrete has been used to build houses to each level of the Code for Sustainable Homes, including Level 4, which is now normally accepted for social housing and Level 6, which is the ultimate goal for zero carbon.

By using aircrete to create masonry houses, the Code for Sustainable Homes allows for the maximum 3 credits, which is identical to those allowed for timber framed buildings. This means that a traditional masonry home can be provided with all the benefits and adherence to modern methods of construction (MMC) and in full compliance with the Code.

Aircrete's environmental credentials extend to its eventual recycling at the end of a building's life. As well as being an inert material aircrete is easily recyclable and can be crushed down with other masonry materials and used in future applications.

The products our industry manufactures contribute to the UK construction industry - improving our schools, houses, offices, hospitals, transport networks, utilities and quality of life. Find out more about this British Precast campaign.